Marrakech (MA) : living legends

N 31°37.445' W 007°59.272'

We strapped up the bike early on the day of the lamb festival to have time on our hands to cross the pass over the High Atlas. It was strange to see all the villages en route deserted and all the road-side stalls selling the usual assortment of souvenirs such as carpets, semi-precious stones, water pipes and tea sets shut with only the odd herdsmen and his goats on the mountain side. While Annabella could appreciate the scenery I was forced to concentrate in order negotiate the endless curves (every 100-300 m!) strewn with gravel for deicing, and to avoid the odd patches of still ice-covered road. Back down on the more temerate plains the last 40 km were an easy cruise to Marrakech. Navigating to a hotel in any large Morroccan city is always a game of chance and this time we suddenly found ourselves on the very large and busy main plaza, Jemaa-el-Fnaat at the heart of Marrakech. After sunset the plaza fills to capacity and turns into a grand spectacle of tea-, juice- and food stalls, snake charmers, fortune tellers, tricksters, entertainers, locals and of course tourists. As often we find it hard to leave but the longing for even warmer temperatures pushes us southwards.